LESSON PLAN: Guitar as Bass
Objective
Students will be able to understand how to play a bass line using their guitars to re-enforce the bass line. Understanding this allows more than one student to play the bass line, also allowing guitars to be used for bass lines in classrooms that don’t have a bass guitar and amp.
Resources
Any song chart you’re currently working on and handout showing which bass strings are the same as the guitar, such as “Some of the Bass-ics” from Bass Consumables, as well as handout “Simple Rhythms” from Bass Consumables.
Vocabulary and Terms
Procedures
- Demonstrate the sound of a bass line on a bass guitar for the class. If you don’t have one, demonstrate the way you can use the lower strings on the guitar for a bass line.
- Show the students the “Simple Rhythms” handout illustrating which strings on the guitar are the same strings on a bass guitar. Have them play only these strings one at a time, either finger style or with a pick.
- Lead students through the jam session on the handout “Simple Rhythms” using it’s various bass rhythms. Once they get the hang of using their guitars this way, transition them over to reading an actual bass chart on their guitars. This will help them participate in cooler sounding arrangements while providing more insight into how to play guitar.
- In future song arrangements, assign a number of guitar players to the bass part. Using this technique along with “Classroom as Drum Set” can turn any song into a really fun sounding and interesting arrangement, even when you’ve only got nylon string beginner guitars in your classroom!
National Core Arts Standards (Music)
Anchor Standard 4: Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
Example: General Music MU:Pr4.2.K a. With guidance, explore and demonstrate awareness of music contrasts (such as high/low, loud/soft, same/different) in a variety of music selected for performance. Example: General Music MU:Pr4.2.4 a. Demonstrate understanding of the structure and the elements of music (such as rhythm, pitch, and form) in music selected for performance. Common Core Correlation: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.2 Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.